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Exclusive Breastfeeding DurationandRisk of Anemia inInfants and Young Children
Author(s) -
Li Duo,
Wang Fenglei,
Liu Huijuan,
Guan Yuhong,
Huang Tao,
Zheng Jusheng
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.30.1_supplement.671.5
Subject(s) - breastfeeding , medicine , anemia , pediatrics , hemoglobin , anthropometry , breast feeding , cohort
Objective To assess the association of exclusive breastfeeding duration with risk of anemia in infants of 12 months and children aged 48–71 months in mainland China. Methods 65256 children enrolled in the Jiaxing Birth Cohort provided detailed breastfeeding information and anthropometry data at 1, 3, and 6 months of age. Hemoglobin was measured in 28105 children at 12 months and in 36128 children within 48–71 months thereafter. Anemia was defined as hemoglobin concentrations <110 g/L for children aged <60 months and <115 g/L for children aged ≥60 months. Results Overall anemia prevalence at 12 months and 48–71 months was 24.9% and 10.0%, respectively. Exclusive breastfeeding≥6 months, but not 3–5 months, was significantly associated with a higher risk of anemia in infants at 12 months age (OR: 1.17; 95% CI: 1.04–1.31), compared with exclusive breastfeeding<3 months. While for young children of 48–71 months of age, it was only marginally significant (OR: 1.14; 95% CI: 0.99–1.30).Prolonged exclusive breastfeeding duration was also associated with a decreased hemoglobin concentration of −0.60 g/L (95% CI: −1.12‐‐0.07) for infants at 12 months ageand −0.97 g/L (95% CI: −1.41‐‐0.53) for young children of 48–71 months of age. Conclusions Exclusive breastfeeding ≥6 months was associated with an increased risk of anemia in infants aged 12 months and lower hemoglobin concentrations in both infants and young children aged 48–71 months. Parents should be vigilant to prevent infant anemia and iron deficiency in infants exclusively breastfed for longer than 6 months. Support or Funding Information This study was funded by the Ph.D. Programs Foundation of Ministry of Education of China (J20130084).